CODE CRACKERS – The Comedy Musical
A NEW COMEDY MUSICAL available from United Music Publishing Limited. From the book by Andy Wilkinson with lyrics and music by Garry Wilkinson, this publication marks the 25th anniversary of the world premiere performance.
Code Crackers is a two-act musical story of comedy, romance and intrigue set in wartime England, with the action taking place at the secret code-cracking establishment, Bletchley Park, a sleepy town in Dorset, and south-coast docks. During the Swing era, band members and local black-market racketeers eventually set aside their rivalries to thwart a cunning plot to abduct England’s greatest code-cracker, all set to toe-tapping, swing-style, big band music of the 1940s.
Unbelievable? The Surprising Facts Behind the Fictional Comedy Musical, Code Crackers.
Alan Turing was the genius behind the wartime code-cracking operation at Bletchley Park. This was the secret establishment of the Government Code and Cypher School. The Bletchley team played a crucial role in World War II, breaking enemy codes, particularly the German Enigma and Lorenz cyphers. Here, the world’s first computer, Colossus, was built. Turing did indeed revisit his old school, Sherborne, and lectured on… cold porridge.
The U. S. 228 company was billeted at Haydon Park, Sherborne, in July 1943. The division was commanded by Hollywood actor Rod Taylor. In early 1944, the company was visited by James Cagney and Glenn Miller and his orchestra, who entertained at the Digby Hotel. This is now the Digby boarding house of Sherborne School.
On the night of September 21st, 1942, a Nazi spy by the name of Ernst Büchner parachuted from a Junkers 88. He landed a short distance from the village of Cerne Abbas in Dorset, a few miles from Sherborne. Büchner was to establish himself in the Sherborne community as Ernie Butcher, living in the Mitre Inn Public House, Lower Acreman Street, Sherborne. He was instrumental in a sabotage attempt on the U.S. encampment at Haydon Park.
‘Operation Demon’ was the name of the gala event enacting the Sherborne community’s reaction to an invasion.
There was a prominent wartime band in Sherborne, Dorset, called The Blackmore Vale Sextet, led by Charlie (smooth Trombone) Parsons.
A Sherborne band, a gala event, a public house, U. S. Army troops, a German spy, an Old Shirburnian code cracker. What if . .?
The Original Production
Peter Lapping, the Headmaster of Sherborne School in Dorset, England, commissioned the musical. It was premiered at Sherborne School during week-long commemorations in June 2000. Cast members included Lucy Mervik Opera of Western Australia, Perth) and James Ottaway (Cambridge Singers), in leading roles. Charlie Cox (movie actor, Daredevil, Boardwalk Empire, etc.) played Weasel, a local spiv. The orchestra comprised members of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Paul Ellis.
New Publication
UMP Ltd. publishes the book (script, which includes stage and lighting directions), vocal score (A4), full study score (A4), conductor’s score (A3), and orchestral and band parts, all of which are available for sale or hire.
Join In the Fun!
The twenty-nine musical numbers include solos, duets, ensembles, orchestral pieces, and big-band numbers. There are dances to the musical styles of the swing era, and tunes you will leave the show singing. There is screwball humour, romance, thrills and intrigue, keeping you entertained through two acts.
Not many musicals have a custard pie fight, a car ride, a lighthouse, and a submarine surfacing on stage!
Soundcloud
Listen to some of the original recording tracks on SoundCloud.
Visit the author, Andy Wilkinson.